I have been on the "I want to move now" kick for so long. Since we are still waiting on COAD (yes still...its been 5 weeks now) I have become in this mood where its just whatever. I know I flip flop and have my bad days, but for the most part, I am fine with being where we are until we move. As much as I hate it here and can't wait to leave, I am 100% fine with the stability we have here. I am trying to look at all this waiting in a different perspective and so far its working.
His PEBLO did call last week and said HRC wanted Curt to give them 3 MOS's that he might want to reclass to. So he gave her his list and now we are still waiting. This week will be week 6 waiting. At this point we have no idea what is going to happen. He more than likely won't have to reclass, its just required that he give them three different jobs he is interested in. But its the army, who knows!
We shall see what is in store for us. Where we are moving and when we are moving remains to be seen, I will just take it as a blessing in disguise at this point. I am trying very hard to change the way I have been thinking about the situation and looking at it in a more positive way, than the negative way I have been. It's a work in progress.
In our time left in the mid-Atlantic region I want to take advantage of what's around here. I have been saying that ever since we moved here and we have never really explored. So this weekend we went to Philadelphia to spend the night. It was alright. We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Then the storm clouds rolled in so we went to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and then back to our hotel across the street.
I could never live in a city. There were so many homeless people and peddlers everywhere. That always scares me. Especially the ones who talk to themselves and cuss at you. Gives me the heeby jeeby's! I like my suburbia just fine :)
One of these weekends we would love to take the train to NYC for the day. Its only 49 bucks! Why not? I would also love to drive up to Maine and back, which I wanted to do this weekend, but Curt didn't.
So much I want to do!!
This weekend coming up is our Girl Scout trip to Great Wolf Lodge. The girls are so excited. It's an indoor waterpark and we are gonna have a blast! I can't believe there is only 16 days of school left. Then I will have a third grader! Time flies!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
72 Hours of Pure Hell
I left for Colorado on Tuesday morning. I was hoping and praying that things would go smoothly...yeah...not so much! Here is my story:
We left the house at 7:30 for a 9:40 flight. I decided not to take I-95 because I knew it would be backed up and full of traffic, so I took the GW parkway like was suggested to me by my husband. I didn't think traffic would be that bad since its a "backroad". Yeah. okay!!! (should have been my first clue to turn around and just go home). I got to the airport at 9:00. Drove around the airport trying to find a damn parking spot and finally went all the way up to the top and parked way in the back. We literally ran into the airport. Now I'm stuck waiting to check in and get through security. I had my purse, a backpack full of toys for Brandon, and a carry on suitcase with our clothes and toiletries. Kaylie had a backpack with her DS and books. We arrive at the gate with 9 minutes to spare! I'm going down the little hall to the plane and the guy is standing there and told me no more bags the overheads are full. I REALLY didn't want to check my bag, so this is just my luck. he asks where I am going and I say Colorado Springs and he says okay. So I leave my bag right there at the end of the hall and he told me he would bring me my ticket for my bag in a minute. Okay. No problem.
We get settled into our seats and get ready for take off and right away Brandon is crying because he wants to get down and run around. So I'm struggling to get him occupied and get everything organized when we take off. I finally get around to calling the flight attendant over and I ask her where my ticket for my bag is. She says "oh you don't need one, your bag will be in Colorado for you, your stroller will be on the ramp, but your bag will go on to Colorado". Right away I just know that is all wrong. So I ask again to clarify and she assures me it will be there. Whatever, nothing I can do about it now!
We arrive at our layover at O'hare, and let me start by saying I hate O'hare. It's so busy there and so huge I always have to walk a mile. Luckily my gate was only two down so that was a relief. Anyway I waited to everyone else got off the plane before I did like I usually do and only my stroller was at the hallway. No bag. We get on the second flight and thankfully Brandon fell asleep and slept most of the way. We arrive in Colorado and of course...no bag. It's lost. I stood at the desk for almost 45 minutes while they called around and finally filled out a "delayed bag" ticket for me. It was crazy. All my years of flying and I have never ever had a lost bag. It was disheartening. Especially after dealing with Brandon being so hard to deal with on the first flight.
I also forgot to mention I hit my head on the airplane overhead because my dumb ass forgot to duck before standing up. And that hurt!
We get our rental car and get to our hotel and I'm getting Brandon out of the car and hit my head getting him out. Then I bent down to retrieve the diaper bag and hit my head AGAIN. Three times that day! I had such a headache that night! I get checked in and we get credit to our room for whatever we wanted, which was so nice! I call Curt and I'm crying hysterically about how horrible my day has been going. He catches a ride to the hotel and we hung out a bit, then ran to Walmart to get us some toiletries and each of us a shirt to hold us over for our one day there, before I took him back to his room.
I ordered room service for breakfast which was the best breakfast ever! hahaha probably because I was soooo hungry. We all scarfed it down. Then we headed over to watch Curt shoot in the qualifications. (He had told me they were shooting qualifications Tues and Wed was the medal round, turned out to be Wed and Thur was the medal round...which sucked), but we get up there and I couldn't even watch him shoot because Brandon was just crying. I finally left because I didn't want to deal with Brandon anymore and also didn't' want to distract Curt by all the ruckus B was making. So I feel like the trip was wasted.
Thursday morning we get up at 545, and leave for the airport at 645. We get there at 7, turn in the rental car and eat breakfast and wait for our flight at 9:15. Suddenly an announcement comes on that all flights to Denver are delayed because of weather. Flights are being diverted to Colorado Springs as well. It was crazy!! We all had to stand in a long line to rebook our flights because now everything is all haywire since no flights are leaving or arriving at Denver. Our connection was in Denver and we would have missed it anyway. So now we waited in a very long line for over an hour and a half to rebook our flight. By the time I got up there there was nothing left to DC. Of course! He could get me into Dulles, but that would have done me no good since my car is at Reagan! So I finally ask him why do I have to go to Denver, why can't I connect in Chicago? I mean I know flights are constantly going to DC from Chicago! At least if I make it to Chicago and can't get to DC that day I have family to stay with. He finally got me on standby for Chicago. Which than fully I was able to get on. Even though it was delayed while flights that were diverted took off again. FINALLY at 12:05 we took off for O'hare. (I forgot to mention from 9 until we took off Brandon basically cried the whole time, it was awful)
I have to rebook my rebook for my connection to DC in Chicago as well since we were so late taking off from Colorado! We get to Chicago and since we were so late we didn't even get a gate, we walked outside and then into the terminal!! We are in Terminal F and for those familiar with O'hare---I had to go all the way to terminal B for my connection! OMG!! A frikin' two mile walk. Once again I realize how much I despise O'hare! The place is always a madhouse. I get to my next gate just in time for boarding after a stop at the restroom and for snacks. The plane is overbooked and people had the same seat assignments. It was insane!
Brandon had slept on the first flight and I knew it was gonna be hard to keep him occupied for the second flight and it was!
On all my flights me and Kaylie were never seated together either. I always told her to just sit with me anyway and I asked the person to switch with me. Luckily everyone was nice enough to do so! Otherwise, they would have had to deal with the wrath of Dacia! You really don't want to experience that...trust me. Only a few have ever experienced the real bitch :)
We finally got home last night at 9. What a long day at the airport! I have never been so stressed out. I will never ever travel alone with a toddler again. It was by far the worst experience to date. My anxiety was through the roof. I have never cried so hard or for 72 hours straight in a long time. I am still at my wits end. As soon as Brandon would cry today I would cringe and get tense. Luckily Kaylie could tell I am completely at the end of my rope and took Brandon upstairs to play for most of the day.
I feel like I have completely lost my mind. I am so ready for Curt to get home so I can get a break. I am desperate for one. Even writing this doesn't put my feelings to rest. I feel like I cannot convey enough how broken down I feel. I have had a rough time and feel so alone. I hate when I feel like I have no one to catch me, no one who understands how completely helpless and crazy I feel. It's hard to explain. I just feel alone, depressed, and ready to snap. I have even been crying today. My whole body is sore too. I feel like I have been running a marathon for 72 hours straight. My neck to my toes is sore.
On a good note my bag was found and should be delivered tomorrow.
We left the house at 7:30 for a 9:40 flight. I decided not to take I-95 because I knew it would be backed up and full of traffic, so I took the GW parkway like was suggested to me by my husband. I didn't think traffic would be that bad since its a "backroad". Yeah. okay!!! (should have been my first clue to turn around and just go home). I got to the airport at 9:00. Drove around the airport trying to find a damn parking spot and finally went all the way up to the top and parked way in the back. We literally ran into the airport. Now I'm stuck waiting to check in and get through security. I had my purse, a backpack full of toys for Brandon, and a carry on suitcase with our clothes and toiletries. Kaylie had a backpack with her DS and books. We arrive at the gate with 9 minutes to spare! I'm going down the little hall to the plane and the guy is standing there and told me no more bags the overheads are full. I REALLY didn't want to check my bag, so this is just my luck. he asks where I am going and I say Colorado Springs and he says okay. So I leave my bag right there at the end of the hall and he told me he would bring me my ticket for my bag in a minute. Okay. No problem.
We get settled into our seats and get ready for take off and right away Brandon is crying because he wants to get down and run around. So I'm struggling to get him occupied and get everything organized when we take off. I finally get around to calling the flight attendant over and I ask her where my ticket for my bag is. She says "oh you don't need one, your bag will be in Colorado for you, your stroller will be on the ramp, but your bag will go on to Colorado". Right away I just know that is all wrong. So I ask again to clarify and she assures me it will be there. Whatever, nothing I can do about it now!
We arrive at our layover at O'hare, and let me start by saying I hate O'hare. It's so busy there and so huge I always have to walk a mile. Luckily my gate was only two down so that was a relief. Anyway I waited to everyone else got off the plane before I did like I usually do and only my stroller was at the hallway. No bag. We get on the second flight and thankfully Brandon fell asleep and slept most of the way. We arrive in Colorado and of course...no bag. It's lost. I stood at the desk for almost 45 minutes while they called around and finally filled out a "delayed bag" ticket for me. It was crazy. All my years of flying and I have never ever had a lost bag. It was disheartening. Especially after dealing with Brandon being so hard to deal with on the first flight.
I also forgot to mention I hit my head on the airplane overhead because my dumb ass forgot to duck before standing up. And that hurt!
We get our rental car and get to our hotel and I'm getting Brandon out of the car and hit my head getting him out. Then I bent down to retrieve the diaper bag and hit my head AGAIN. Three times that day! I had such a headache that night! I get checked in and we get credit to our room for whatever we wanted, which was so nice! I call Curt and I'm crying hysterically about how horrible my day has been going. He catches a ride to the hotel and we hung out a bit, then ran to Walmart to get us some toiletries and each of us a shirt to hold us over for our one day there, before I took him back to his room.
I ordered room service for breakfast which was the best breakfast ever! hahaha probably because I was soooo hungry. We all scarfed it down. Then we headed over to watch Curt shoot in the qualifications. (He had told me they were shooting qualifications Tues and Wed was the medal round, turned out to be Wed and Thur was the medal round...which sucked), but we get up there and I couldn't even watch him shoot because Brandon was just crying. I finally left because I didn't want to deal with Brandon anymore and also didn't' want to distract Curt by all the ruckus B was making. So I feel like the trip was wasted.
Thursday morning we get up at 545, and leave for the airport at 645. We get there at 7, turn in the rental car and eat breakfast and wait for our flight at 9:15. Suddenly an announcement comes on that all flights to Denver are delayed because of weather. Flights are being diverted to Colorado Springs as well. It was crazy!! We all had to stand in a long line to rebook our flights because now everything is all haywire since no flights are leaving or arriving at Denver. Our connection was in Denver and we would have missed it anyway. So now we waited in a very long line for over an hour and a half to rebook our flight. By the time I got up there there was nothing left to DC. Of course! He could get me into Dulles, but that would have done me no good since my car is at Reagan! So I finally ask him why do I have to go to Denver, why can't I connect in Chicago? I mean I know flights are constantly going to DC from Chicago! At least if I make it to Chicago and can't get to DC that day I have family to stay with. He finally got me on standby for Chicago. Which than fully I was able to get on. Even though it was delayed while flights that were diverted took off again. FINALLY at 12:05 we took off for O'hare. (I forgot to mention from 9 until we took off Brandon basically cried the whole time, it was awful)
I have to rebook my rebook for my connection to DC in Chicago as well since we were so late taking off from Colorado! We get to Chicago and since we were so late we didn't even get a gate, we walked outside and then into the terminal!! We are in Terminal F and for those familiar with O'hare---I had to go all the way to terminal B for my connection! OMG!! A frikin' two mile walk. Once again I realize how much I despise O'hare! The place is always a madhouse. I get to my next gate just in time for boarding after a stop at the restroom and for snacks. The plane is overbooked and people had the same seat assignments. It was insane!
Brandon had slept on the first flight and I knew it was gonna be hard to keep him occupied for the second flight and it was!
On all my flights me and Kaylie were never seated together either. I always told her to just sit with me anyway and I asked the person to switch with me. Luckily everyone was nice enough to do so! Otherwise, they would have had to deal with the wrath of Dacia! You really don't want to experience that...trust me. Only a few have ever experienced the real bitch :)
We finally got home last night at 9. What a long day at the airport! I have never been so stressed out. I will never ever travel alone with a toddler again. It was by far the worst experience to date. My anxiety was through the roof. I have never cried so hard or for 72 hours straight in a long time. I am still at my wits end. As soon as Brandon would cry today I would cringe and get tense. Luckily Kaylie could tell I am completely at the end of my rope and took Brandon upstairs to play for most of the day.
I feel like I have completely lost my mind. I am so ready for Curt to get home so I can get a break. I am desperate for one. Even writing this doesn't put my feelings to rest. I feel like I cannot convey enough how broken down I feel. I have had a rough time and feel so alone. I hate when I feel like I have no one to catch me, no one who understands how completely helpless and crazy I feel. It's hard to explain. I just feel alone, depressed, and ready to snap. I have even been crying today. My whole body is sore too. I feel like I have been running a marathon for 72 hours straight. My neck to my toes is sore.
On a good note my bag was found and should be delivered tomorrow.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Kid talk
I've been concerned about Brandon lately because he still isn't talking. I try not to worry too much because he understands everything we say and will do what we ask. He can make noises and when we ask him what a dinosaur says he says "rawr", a cow says "mmmmm" and he says mom and dad. Thats it. I see parents put their kids in speech therapy as soon as they turn one and that makes no sense to me. I try to stay positive though and always tell myself "well, Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was 3" haha
It bothers me though because Kaylie was such a talker (and still is) By the time she was 18 months old she new her ABC's and could count to 15 and count to 10 in Spanish!! Where I can't even get Brandon to say "car".
It bothers me a bit, and I worry that he has a speech delay. Or maybe one day he will just stat talking in full sentences when he wakes up! Who knows. I'm not gonna really worry until after he turns two. Then I'll talk to the doctor about it.
I don't get how parents take their kids into speech therapy as soon as they turn one and aren't talking. I think that is a bit extreme. I mean the kid is only one! I don't get it. I know everyone's parenting styles are different and they do what they think is best for their own kids. As parents I think we are the most judgemental people on the planet! I see stuff others do and roll my eyes about it. But then again, I try not to, because I know that they do what works for them. I know, I know. But we all do it!!
I totally believe in the biblical saying "Spare the rod, spoil the child."
On another note. This starts week three of waiting for COAD. They were supposed to put a "rush on it" since they had everything except one letter. I'm beginning to think they lost his packet or it was never received. Sigh......hopefully this is all going to pay off in the end!
It bothers me though because Kaylie was such a talker (and still is) By the time she was 18 months old she new her ABC's and could count to 15 and count to 10 in Spanish!! Where I can't even get Brandon to say "car".
It bothers me a bit, and I worry that he has a speech delay. Or maybe one day he will just stat talking in full sentences when he wakes up! Who knows. I'm not gonna really worry until after he turns two. Then I'll talk to the doctor about it.
I don't get how parents take their kids into speech therapy as soon as they turn one and aren't talking. I think that is a bit extreme. I mean the kid is only one! I don't get it. I know everyone's parenting styles are different and they do what they think is best for their own kids. As parents I think we are the most judgemental people on the planet! I see stuff others do and roll my eyes about it. But then again, I try not to, because I know that they do what works for them. I know, I know. But we all do it!!
I totally believe in the biblical saying "Spare the rod, spoil the child."
On another note. This starts week three of waiting for COAD. They were supposed to put a "rush on it" since they had everything except one letter. I'm beginning to think they lost his packet or it was never received. Sigh......hopefully this is all going to pay off in the end!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Quick Blog
This will be quick or I might come back and finish it later tonight when I have more time, but just wanted to give a quick update.
STILL no word on COAD. Sigh....I'm getting depressed again thinking about how long this is all taking. It's so annoying! I just want to move on already. It's ridiculous.
Anywho, Curt leaves for Colorado on Sunday for two weeks for the Warrior Games. The kids and I are going out there to watch him compete May 17th. I am so excited about that. I was on the phone and computer all afternoon since I finally got my flight and hotel confirmations. I am so grateful that the Fisher House provided airline tickets this year so families could finally get to come watch their loved ones compete. My hotel room is being provided by the Bob Woodruff Foundation. So we don't have to pay for anything except our rental car which is nice. People are so generous to our wounded soldiers! So I finally booked the rental car today. I am nervous about going alone with the kids and I really hope it all goes smoothly for me as far as our flight and drive to the hotel. I get so much anxiety traveling so I can only imagine how I am going to be with zero help!!
Thankfully I will not have to bring a car seat. The rental car company also lets you rent a car seat and a GPS (thank God!). I am very excited for this experience though and I can't wait to see Colorado Springs!
On top of that I am really stressed out with school. I have SO much work due next week, including an 8 page paper for psychology on top of two quizzes, and two discussion boards, so my plate is full in that department. Statistics is stressing me out. I mean I grasp many of the concepts, but then there are those that are just completely confusing. It's hard! I am so ready to be done with this class. That's my biggest stresser in school is this one damn class. I spend so much time on just practicing the material that I then have to hurry up and do my assignments so they are not late. Ugh. Stupid class.
Anyway, I'm out of time for now...time to leave for Girl Scouts!
STILL no word on COAD. Sigh....I'm getting depressed again thinking about how long this is all taking. It's so annoying! I just want to move on already. It's ridiculous.
Anywho, Curt leaves for Colorado on Sunday for two weeks for the Warrior Games. The kids and I are going out there to watch him compete May 17th. I am so excited about that. I was on the phone and computer all afternoon since I finally got my flight and hotel confirmations. I am so grateful that the Fisher House provided airline tickets this year so families could finally get to come watch their loved ones compete. My hotel room is being provided by the Bob Woodruff Foundation. So we don't have to pay for anything except our rental car which is nice. People are so generous to our wounded soldiers! So I finally booked the rental car today. I am nervous about going alone with the kids and I really hope it all goes smoothly for me as far as our flight and drive to the hotel. I get so much anxiety traveling so I can only imagine how I am going to be with zero help!!
Thankfully I will not have to bring a car seat. The rental car company also lets you rent a car seat and a GPS (thank God!). I am very excited for this experience though and I can't wait to see Colorado Springs!
On top of that I am really stressed out with school. I have SO much work due next week, including an 8 page paper for psychology on top of two quizzes, and two discussion boards, so my plate is full in that department. Statistics is stressing me out. I mean I grasp many of the concepts, but then there are those that are just completely confusing. It's hard! I am so ready to be done with this class. That's my biggest stresser in school is this one damn class. I spend so much time on just practicing the material that I then have to hurry up and do my assignments so they are not late. Ugh. Stupid class.
Anyway, I'm out of time for now...time to leave for Girl Scouts!
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